The Caribbean Series

The Caribbean Series is a unique regional baseball event, the oldest of its kind. After starting in 1949 and enduring a decade-long sabbatical for political reasons in the 1960s, it was resurrected in 1970 and continues to this day. With seven countries competing, the Caribbean Series represents a source of pride for team owners, general managers, players, and fans alike. This book presents first-hand accounts from over 200 past players and managers, including details on 66 CS tournaments. With many details presented for the first time in English, this history presents the exciting Latin American baseball event in rich historical and personal context.

Thomas E. Van Hyning, fluent in Spanish and formerly a research manager for the Mississippi Tourism Division, served 1991–1995 as U.S. correspondent for the Puerto Rico (PR) Professional Baseball Hall of Fame and is a current member of SABR’s Latino Baseball Research Committee. He writes for The National Pastime, Baseball Research Journal, and PR Professional Baseball Hall of Fame website.

Thomas E. Van Hyning
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 328
Bibliographic Info: 79 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2025
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9391-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5264-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword by Craig Anderson 1

Abbreviations 3

Preface 5

Introduction 9

1. Caribbean Series (CS) Gets Underway (1949–1951) 13

2. Tommy Fine ­No-Hitter to Willard Brown and Jim Rivera (1952–1954) 30

3. Willie “Say Juey Kid” Mays and Roberto Clemente (1955) 46

4. Cuba Goes ­Five-For-Five (1956–1960) 58

5. Inter-American Series (IAS) ­Pinch-Hits for CS (1961–1965) 76

6. Phase II Gets Underway (1970–1974) 89

7. Hermosillo Makes History and Licey Wins Two (1975–1980) 105

8. Cinderella Team (Arecibo) Makes Noise (1982–1987) 121

9. Two-Year Detour in Miami and More (1988–1994) 137

10. Dream Team to “Big Papi” Licey Heroics (1995–1999) 152

11. Dream Team II to “Big Papi” with Licey and AC (2000–2005) 167

12. Caracas Lions to Escogido Lions (2006–2012) 179

13. A New Format for the Finals and Semifinals (2013–2019) 195

14. Six to Eight Teams, Then Seven Teams (2020–2024) 212

Appendices: Caribbean Series (CS) and Inter-American Series (IAS) Statistics 241

1. Team Abbreviations: 1949–1960 CS, 1961–1965 IAS, 1970–2024 CS 241

2-A. Team Standings: ­Wins-Losses, PCT, 1949–1960 CS, 1961–1965 IAS 241

2-B. Team Standings: ­Wins-Losses, PCT, 1970–1994 242

2-C. Team Standings: ­Wins-Losses, PCT, 1995–2013 243

2-D. Team Standings: ­Wins-Losses, PCT, 2014–2024 244

3. CS Titles by Franchise, 1949–1960, 1970–2024, ­Wins-Losses, PCT 245

4. Selected CS and IAS Career Records, 1949–1960, 1961–65, 1970–2024 246

5. Selected CS Career Batting/Pitching Records, 1949–1960, 1970–2024 261

6. Winning CS Managers, 1949–1960, 1970–2024 263

7. Selected ­All-Time CS Individual/Team Records, 1949–1960, 1970–2024 264

8-A. Selected All-Star Teams 266

8-B. Most Valuable Players: 1949–1960, 1970–2024 272

8-C. CS/IAS Roberto Clemente Memorial Awardees by Country of Origin (Chosen by Luis R. Mayoral) 273

8-D. CS/IAS National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees by Country of Origin, 1973–2024 273

8-E. CSHOF Inductees by Country Represented, 1996–2024 274

Chapter Notes 277

Bibliography 293

Index 297